Stimulus Package report for ag

The following list is a summary of programs funded by the stimulus package for agriculture. The legislative text of the conference report is available at http:// www.rules.house.gov/ bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4149. If you have any questions, contact your congressional office. Note that a dairy buy-out program was not included in the final bill.

Office of Inspector General Ð $22,500,000 for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and activities funded by the stimulus package and administered by USDA.

Agricultural Research Service Buildings and Facilities Ð $176,000,000 for work on deferred critical maintenance at Agricultural Research Service facilities.

Farm Service Agency IT maintenance and modernization Ð $50,000,000

NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Ð $290,000,000. $145,000,000 is dedicated to the purchase and restoration of floodplain easements, of which not more than $30,000,000 may be dedicated to a single state.

Watershed Rehabilitation Program Ð $50,000,000

The Rural Housing Service Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account received funding to cover $1 billion for direct loans and $10.5 billion for guaranteed loans, as well as $67 million for direct loans and $133 million for guaranteed loans for loan modifications. At least 105,000 low to moderate income rural households will be assisted with home ownership or avoiding foreclosure through this funding source.

Rural Community Facilities Programs Ð $130 million to support $1.5 billion for loans and grants for essential rural community facilities.

Rural Business guaranteed loans and grants Ð $150 million to support over $3 billion in loans and grants to support income and employment expansion through improved business opportunities and development in rural areas.

Rural water and waste disposal Ð $1.38 billion to support over $3 billion in loans and grants for water, waste water, and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.

Broadband Ð $2.5 billion for the cost of supporting loans, loan guarantees, and grants to expand broadband availability. At least 75% of the area to be served must be in rural communities without broadband access.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Ð $500,000,000 of which $400,000,000 shall be placed in reserve should cost or participation exceed budget estimates.

National School Lunch Program equipment assistance - $100,000,000

Emergency food assistance program Ð$150,000,000; the Secretary may use up to $50,000,000 for costs associated with commodity distribution and $25,000,000 in FY 2009.

State administrative expenses for supplemental nutrition assistance program Ð $145,000,000 in FY 2009 and $150,000,000 in FY 2010, of which $4,500,000 is made available for monitoring and oversight of the program and payments.

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations facility improvements Ð $5 million